The medical assistant position offers a chance to enter into the medical field that can lead to a stable and reliable career path. Medical assistants play a vital role in both the administrative and clinical aspects of medicine. This means working with patients and doctors alike and becoming efficient in numerous aspects of business in the healthcare industry.

To get started in medical assisting there is some training that is required. Potential medical assistants will have to find a academic program that will prepare them with the variety of skills that will be required to be successful in administrative and clinical responsibilities. The basic curriculum students will need to know ranges from familiarity with medical law, records, billing, insurance, communications. On the clinical end students will learn patient preparation, become trained in aspects of medical testing and practice as well. This will prepare the student to handle a range of duties that will often exceed those of a nurse or medical office assistant. In a sense, a medical assistant will be expected to perform both to some degree.

With this preparation students can go on to sit for professional exams to become a Certified Medical Assistant or CMA. Another professional exam exists to become a Registered Medical Assistant or RMA. Those considering a future as a medical assistant will want to be sure that the training program they choose will provide eligibility and preparation for whichever one or both of these credentials, depending on the requirements for the position they seek. Most training programs will also require students to complete a training at a medical facility. This is essential to learn the basics of patient care that will be part of the medical assistant role.

Coming out of thorough training program, medical assistants will find an abundance of opportunities that await them. The United States Department of Labor even predicts the opportunities available for medical assistants will continue to grow. This is because medical assisting involves both ends of the healthcare business and a good medical assistant can allow the matters of clinical and administrative duties to flow smoothly by performing well.

Going forward, medical assisting can lead to nearly every career outcome by furthering training. From working as a medical assistant, one will generally make a decision to advance their training in either one of two directions. If they find they are more at home in the office environment, there are many degree opportunities in healthcare management at both the Bachelor's and Master's level. Taking this path can lead to upper level management positions in hospitals or insurance companies. Those that feel drawn towards the clinical aspect may choose to go on to study medicine with the goal of becoming a registered nurse or even a doctor. Becoming a medical assistant will allow the opportunity for a person that is new to the medical field to get experience and learn about the various positions before making that important decision on the direction of their career.

The median salary for medical assistant positions will start off in the upper twenties or lower thirties. The pay can vary depending on the number of duties expected in the position as well as the experience and training held. Some medical assistants will look to continue quickly in their training to attain an LPN and take on more clinical responsibilities to increase their pay. Other available training on the administrative end, such as a course in ICD-9, or continue training to become certified in other areas. Those looking into increasing their pay and advancing in the area of healthcare management can become a Certified Professional Coder Apprentice or a Registered Health Information Administrator, depending on their interests.

Medical Assistants are able to get a fast start in the healthcare field. For those that may be a little unsure what potential direction they would want to see their career go, medical assisting will be an opportunity to gain field experience without spending an abundance of time and money on their training. It is a chance to be a vital part of a medical facility, learn and practice a number of various skills, and to make a difference in the lives of others every day. The best part is, it is the beginning to any healthcare career one might want.